Dr. James Allan's specialty is thoracic surgery. Patients rated Dr. Allan highly, giving him an average of 4.0 stars out of 5. His areas of clinical interest consist of lung transplant, esophageal cancer, and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). He is professionally affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. He is an in-network provider for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, Humana ChoiceCare Network, and more. New patients are welcome to contact Dr. Allan's office for an appointment. He studied medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Allan's residency was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital. His distinctions include: National Merit Scholarship Winner.; Harvard College Scholarship for Academic; and Harvard College Dean's List..

Dr. Ashok Muniappan works as a chest surgeon in Boston, MA and Concord, MA. Dr. Muniappan's areas of clinical interest consist of esophageal cancer, lung transplant, and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). He is in-network for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and Humana ChoiceCare Network, in addition to other insurance carriers. He is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine and a graduate of Massachusetts General Hospital's residency program. Dr. Muniappan's hospital/clinic affiliations include Emerson Hospital, Lowell General Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital. New patients are welcome to contact his office for an appointment.

Dr. Serguei Melnitchouk is a cardiac surgery and general surgery specialist in Boston, MA. His areas of expertise include lung transplant, heart transplant, and heart bypass surgery (CABG). Dr. Melnitchouk honors several insurance carriers, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and Humana ChoiceCare Network. He is a graduate of Heidelberg University. He trained at Columbia University Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital for residency. Dr. Melnitchouk has received professional recognition including the following: Calderwood Distinguished Scholar Award. Dr. Melnitchouk (or staff) speaks German, Russian, and Ukrainian. He is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. He has an open panel.

Dr. Joanne Shepard specializes in diagnostic radiology. She obtained her medical school training at Boston University School of Medicine and performed her residency at Hartford Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Clinical interests for Dr. Shepard include lung transplant, lung cancer, and pulmonary embolism. She is in-network for several insurance carriers, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and Humana ChoiceCare Network. She has received the following distinctions: Professor Radiology Harvard Med School; Director, Thoracic Radiology Mgh; and Associate Editor, New England Journal Of Medicine. She is professionally affiliated with Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Martha's Vineyard Hospital. Dr. Shepard is open to new patients.

Dr. Leo Ginns is a Boston, MA physician who specializes in adult critical care and adult pulmonology. He offers interpreting services for his patients. Dr. Ginns's areas of expertise include lung transplant, emphysema, and pulmonary fibrosis. He is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. After completing medical school at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, he performed his residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Patients gave him an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. Dr. Ginns honors Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and Humana ChoiceCare Network, in addition to other insurance carriers. Awards and/or distinctions he has received include Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Kappa, Cum Laude; Senior Honors, .; and Alpha Omega Alpha, Lamb Fellowship for best. He is accepting new patients.

Dr. Benjamin Medoff is a specialist in adult critical care and adult pulmonology. He works in Boston, MA. His areas of expertise include the following: lung transplant, intensive care, and asthma. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and Humana ChoiceCare Network are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Medoff accepts. He obtained his medical school training at Harvard Medical School and performed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Medoff has received professional recognition including the following: Glaxo Wellcare Pulmonary Fellowship Award. He speaks Spanish. He is professionally affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Medoff has a closed panel.

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What is a Lung Transplant?

Patients who have very severe lung disease may need a lung transplant. The diseased lung is entirely removed and replaced with a healthy lung, usually donated by a person who died. Either one or both lungs can be transplanted.

Contrary to popular belief, lung transplant is rarely used to treat lung cancer. It is a more common treatment for patients with other advanced lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Lung transplant is a serious operation and is generally used as a last resort for patients who have only a short time to live without surgery.

During a transplant, an incision is made on the side of the chest (for a single lung) or in the middle (for both lungs). Patients may be hooked up to a heart-lung bypass machine, which will do the work of moving blood and oxygen through the body during the procedure. After the diseased lung is cut away from the main airway and blood vessels, the donor lung is stitched into place. Surgery may take as long as twelve hours, and a hospital stay of two to three weeks after surgery is not uncommon. For the first hours or day after surgery, patients use a ventilator, or a machine to help them breathe. Tubes will be inserted into the chest to help drain excess air and fluid. During recovery, physical therapy and breathing exercises are used to help the new lung work as well as possible.

Lung capacity is carefully monitored for several months after surgery. Patients who have had a transplant will also have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their lives. These drugs stop the body’s immune system from attacking the new lung. The main risks after a transplant are infection and rejection (when the immune system attacks the ‘foreign’ lung). A healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a diet high in vegetables and lean protein, not smoking, and getting enough exercise, is important to keeping the lungs functioning as well as possible. With proper care, many patients can live ten or even twenty years after a lung transplant.